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Rivals Rankings Week: Which LB could jump Justin Flowe?

Linebacker has proven to be one of the deepest positions in the 2020 recruiting class and five-star Justin Flowe has long been considered the top prospect at the position. A few other prospects have emerged that could challenge him for that top spot and the Rivals national analyst team discussed who (or if) any other linebacker could end up ahead of Flowe in the final rankings.

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK:

Monday: Top 10 revealed | Looking at top of WR class

Tuesday: Rivals100 revealed | MInd of Mike | New five-stars

Wednesday: Rivals250 revealed

Thursday: Position rankings revealed

CASSIDY'S VIEW: DEREK WINGO

Derek Wingo
Derek Wingo (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

"Wingo was better than Flowe for one day at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas, but we have to consider sample size. So while Wingo is a freakish athlete with a sky-high ceiling, it’s a stretch to assume he could topple Flowe at the top of the list based on one camp. That said, the gap has certainly closed and what happens this fall could determine if Wingo has a real chance of seizing the top spot at middle linebacker. At the very least, this has become something to keep an eye."

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FRIEDMAN'S VIEW: TRENTON SIMPSON

Trenton Simpson
Trenton Simpson (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

"The race for the top linebacker spot is getting tighter and there are a number of candidates to overtake Flowe. There are plenty of things that make Flowe special, but it's his combination of size and speed that make him truly exceptional. That's what makes Auburn commit Trenton Simpson special, too. A true linebacker, as opposed to a hybrid linebacker/defensive end or edge rusher, Simpson has the size, physical nature, and speed to excel at the next level. It will take a lot for any linebacker to move Flowe off the top spot, but Simpson has as good a chance as any."

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GORNEY'S VIEW: NOAH SEWELL

Noah Sewell
Noah Sewell (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

"The entire team of Rivals analysts saw both Flowe and Noah Sewell at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas and they were very close in ability and impact - and on that day Sewell was arguably the better of the two. I’ve seen Flowe be so dominant so many times I’ve lost count and he is unstoppable in games, but Sewell is an incredibly impressive physical specimen at 260 pounds. For Sewell to move that well at that size, to cover that much ground and to be able to play sideline to sideline like he does really made an impression this summer. He was having so much fun at the Five-Star Challenge that he switched over to offense (he stars at running back in high school) and looked good there as well. Sewell is special and that’s why he’s a five-star right behind Flowe at this point."

SIMMONS' VIEW: QUANDARRIUS ROBINSON

Quandarrius Robinson
Quandarrius Robinson (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

"It is clear linebacker is one of the strongest positions in the 2020 class. There is a strong mix of inside and outside linebackers, with Quandarrious Robinson making a case for that fifth star. He has a great frame, he is athletic, he is explosive and he has just started to tap into his potential. He started off his high school career as a safety, so he is still growing and learning the position. He is fierce off the edge with speed and energy and the Alabama commit is only going to get better."

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